Long distance cycling and diabetes

Hey all-I was recently diagnosed with adult-onset Type 2 diabetes. Up until 5 years ago I was an avid across-the-country-type of long distance bicyclist and was looking to get back into it.

I realize that everyone is different and your personal experiences with diabetes is probably different than mine, but I am looking for input, suggestions, ideas or programs that have worked for you as you have traveled about.

WEll i am an insulin user and have been cycling for about 10 years now. My normal sat or sun ride is 40-50 miles each day, I stop a minimun of every 20 miles to do a blood sugar check. When I'm doing longer rides I begin the ride with my sugar near the 200 mark or over, as the ride goes I burn through alot. (have gone from 240 to 70 in 15 miles) The best for any of us is test often , and have food to eat on hand or at planned rest stops. I always carry at least 4 High carb bars, and 2 sleeves of glucose tablets with me.

Hi there! Insulin dependent diabetic here so my situation is different from yours. However I would recommend checking your blood sugar regularly and keeping a steady flow of calories coming in. In other words don't stop to eat a large amount of calories all at one time. Spread it out at an even hourly rate. I've attached my glucose meter and lancet device to my aerobars, and my test strip vial to my headset/stem so that I can test while continuing to ride. Like the other poster mentioned, make sure you always have some quick sugar available in the case of low blood sugar - for me that's glucose tablets and Hammer Gel. I actually prefer Hammer Gel because it seems to give a quick sugar level boost while also providing some caloric benefit further down the road than glucose tablets.

Good luck and don't let diabetes stop you from riding. The health benefits of cycling to a person with diabetes are excellent as long as you are responsible in managing your blood sugar levels while you ride.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

Here is a ride report from a guy who finished the Furnace Creek 508, who has insulin dependent diabetes. It's an amazing story, and you could probably track down his email address and pick his brain too.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a little over three years ago. All of the advice is good that has been posted so far.

You may also get a great extra benefit. During the summer, when I am riding 100 to 200 miles per week, I have been able to get off of the medicine and my LDL and Triglycerides are really good. Exercise can make a huge difference.

Thanks for all of the great stories/info. I am also recently diagnosed as type II. The bike excercise has been a god send. Dropped about 35 lbs so far, 30 more to go. Problem now is over medication. I have to see my doc, since my sugar has been crashing over the last week, a couple of times into the 30's. I guess alot of people give lip service about excercise and don't follow through. I ride 15 to 40 miles every day, and love it again.

friend of my wife who has type 1 rode cross country last year on a fixie. the documentary was pretty good, but I'm not sure when/if it will be in distribution. Apparently he's on a team for RAMM next year.

I'm a border line Type 2--as in, my sugar runs high, but if I watch what I eat, and RIDE, I keep things right at the top of "normal". I took my husbands old meter with me on the ride across TN last summer, and really did not worry about eating, because we were doing 60+ to over 70 miles a day, way more than my normal 225--30.

I did not have any problems with bottoming out, even when i "felt" low. I think a large part of that is simply having overeaten for years, I don't have a good feel for what real hunger feels like. I am not on medication yet, although i suspect it may happen soon, I really have slacked off on diet and excercise lately. This is a good wake up call for me! Of course, the cost of the testing is an issue, as my insurance company does not pay anything since I am not yet "official", and I intend to keep it that way. Still, it is cheap compared to the long term problems of high sugar.

I will put in a plug for a new cookbook--the ADA Diabetic Deserts book! It has a mix of real and other sugars in the recipies, realistc portion sizes, and everything I have tried out is really yummy! It was a great investment for this time of year.

I have been a Type I diabetic since 1990 and have been cycling ever since. However, I have never done any long distance cycling. This summer I plan to ride in the RAGBRAI and am wondering how some of you keep your insulin chilled. The event is in July so temperatures could be extreme. I have been looking for some type of small case that uses ice since I am not sure I will be able to freeze reusable chill packs. Any suggestions?

Hi there,new guy here from ocoee,fl.I have type 2 diabetes,i stop using insulin when i started riding a month ago(as a test),i do not use insulin or any type of medicine for diabetes anymore,my new medicine is my bike and it works,i've seen my sugar as low as 84 after a 20 mile ride and even on the days that i don't ride,it stay between a 100 to 125 and that's a good thing!!Try to keep your sugar under control with your bike and diet,it will work!!!

I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when I was three years old, twenty-six years ago; I also have another disease, Addison's, which makes my need for balanced electrolytes _extremely_ important. I've started a 15-mile commute, and in the summer where I live, this commute has been in 90-degree heat going home from work in the afternoons. Have any of you found a great electrolyte balanced add-in for plain water? I'd rather use my insulated, reusable water bottle than buy anything to throw away.

Also for you diabetics out there: what do you eat before a commute-type of ride? In the mornings, I wake up with blood sugar around 130-160, and I eat two Kashi honey oat waffles. (About 30 carbs.) I don't bolus, and my blood sugar usually drops down to 65 (fairly consistently) by the time I reach work. But then, though I'm not eating anything and keeping up my water balance, the blood sugar dramatically rises. Within the span of about 1 hour, I will be 200. (Which, I realize, means I need to bolus, but I'm trying to figure out a way to avoid the insulin by getting the food balance perfect.)

I know this is a weird question, but I was wondering if anyone else with the juvenile diabetes has had this experience of quick blood sugar elevation, even after a ride.

You might want to try mixing in some protein with your waffles for breakfast. That should help. You're probably not completely burning off your entire breakfast and the leftover "kicks out" after your metabolism has slowed back down post-commute. Mixing in protein should help buffer the elevated glucose levels. It's worth a try at least...otherwise your only option will be to bolus.

Nuun makes electrolyte tablets that you can mix in with your water. I believe Luna makes some type of electrolyte tablets /drink mix.

Hope this information is helpful.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

I will try your suggestion--thank you. I also talked to my doc, and he said just to suspend the pump before the ride, and then start it again in the middle, so that the liver won't produce an extra rise in sugar.

Let me also say--I am so glad to see people in a similar situation being so communicative. Before the age of the Internet, it was so difficult to get good communication from people who actually went through the same things I went through. Thank you!

I'd be interested in knowing if your doc's suggestion works out. Just from my experience, I've found a better solution is to dial my basal rate down on my pump rather than shutting it off. Getting some amount of insulin delivery on a consistent flow(even if very small) seems to better offset the eventual output of glycogen from the liver once the ride is done - as opposed to the all or nothing approach of turning the pump on/off.

I've had lots of experience with cycling with Type 1 but still don't have all the answers. Please check back in after you've experimented for awhile and let me know how it's going.

Best wishes!

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.

I just found this site and forum, so am new here and new to cycling; so sorry for the length of the post but want to give some background info, too.

I started riding about 14 weeks ago as part of weight loss program. I am Type 2 Diabetic and was on Glimepiride and Metformin (each 2 times a day). My levels were out of control still, as I was 140 pounds overweight and didn't control my diet.

Then, I got serious, started riding, and have lost 46 pounds so far. My levels are fantastic, and I can even eat fruit again for the first time in years. The doc cut out the Glimeperide completely, as I began have bad lows several times a day, and now the Metformin has also been cut in half.

Ok, now to the questions--

I am slowly increasing my distance with the goal of doing a Century at some point. I am up to riding between 90-110 miles a week, with one 40 mile ride in there somewhere. I've been increasing my distance about 5% each week.

I'm burning as much as 1800 calories a ride though, and am having a hard time keeping my calorie intake up to not go below 1100-1200 a day (doctor recommened level). I want to make sure I'm getting enough food in to keep my body up while still losing weight in a healthy manner. BUT now, with all this extra calories, and being diabetic, I'm having a hard time!

I have to watch carbs, sugars, and sodium of course--so any diabetics out there that can give suggestions on how to eat enough food or what types of food you're eating that won't send my levels back through the roof??

I have been a type one diabetic for 19 years, i never wanted to let it slow me down and it hasnt! just takes a little more preperation and care

i see that im way late on this one but no one answered the question, for colling insulin i have used cooling packs that you just add water too.i bought them online just google "insulin cooling packs"i hope this might help someone

Just joined the forum and your comments have helped. Had a heart attack in August while on a 20 mile ride. Two months later I was diagnosed as insulin dependent-type 2. Have been cycling for 20 years with 2000 miles a summer being the norm. Over those 20 years I've had back surgery, 2 heart attacks, and now diabetes. Through all of it my bike has been my best friend. At 59 years old the learning curve for insulin and diabetes is rather steep. I'm very thankful for a great doctor and this forum. They are hopefully going to help me get back on the road. My bike has been lonesome the last 3 months!

I ran across this forum looking for help stabilizing my blood sugar while riding. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about two years ago and began riding about 6 weeks ago. I am not on insulin, however use oral medications. My "long" rides are currently only 15-20 miles; however I've noticed my bg will drop drastically within the first three miles - below 90. I spend the rest of the ride trying to bring it back up. Pre-ride bg typically between. 150 and 200, highest has been 247. Things I've tried include eating extendz bar prior, and during the ride. I also carry raisins and glucose tabs. I am looking for suggestions for what to eat that will have a longer lasting effect to stabilize my bg while riding. My goal for now is to up my distance to 50 miles. As it stands now, I'll end up eating 10+ Extendz bars with that long of a ride.